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Anonymous donor gives to Valpo groups
By Annette Arnold
Thursday, January 01, 2009
VALPARAISO | The Caring Place and the Porter
County Salvation Army ended 2008 on a happy
note. The groups each received a check for
$5,000 Wednesday morning from Porter County
Sheriff Dave Lain, who made the presentations on
behalf of an anonymous donor. Lain
presented checks to Mary Beth Schultz, executive
director of The Caring Place, and Major John
Welch, of the Salvation Army. "It's an
honor for the Sheriff's Department to be the
conduit for such generosity," Lain said. "These
are two wonderfully caring organizations."
The anonymous donor, a philanthropic businessman
in Porter County, Lain said, wanted to brighten
the holidays for children and families. With
Lain's help, the donor decided to give to the
two local charities. "This feels great,"
Lain said. "It's like I'm a surrogate Santa."
Last year the anonymous donor donated items to
the pediatrics unit at the hospital. "I
feel this donation this year is even more
significant because of the economy," Lain said.
Welch was delighted with the donation.
"Thank you to the person who donated this
money," Welch said. "We have helped over 500
families and 1,000 children with toys and
donations, and this will help assist families
during the year with mortgages, food and youth
activities." Schultz agreed that is
donation will help a great deal. "This
goes into the operations of The Caring Place,
and we look at donations to help sustain us."
"With a new year this donation signifies a new
level of hope and maybe this will inspire others
to help others," Lain said.
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